Celebrity Playlist

8 p.m. Saturday night. What do ya got? We’ll tell you what ya got. Ya got J Berd hosting a listening party for his brand new album, “Overtime,” at Frederick & Co. 1745. In addition to the listening party, you’ll also be privy to the world premiere of his video for “Moonwalkers” and the album itself will be on sale for the first time. To help celebrate the event, we caught up with our friend Mr. Berd, who recently appeared on an episode of the Frederick Playlist podcast, and asked him what he’s listening to these days. The result? Bam: A brand new Celebrity Playlist. There’s some good stuff in here, friends, so please check it out. Because what’s better than some good hip-hop on a rainy Tuesday? The answer is nothing. Nothing is better. And if this gets you in the mood to listen to some brand new good hip-hop, head on down to Frederick & Co. Friday night.

Westside Gunn: “Brains Flew By”

I love the original flow and unique production on this. It’s mood music.

Action Bronson: “Chop Chop Chop”

It’s Action!

Sean Price: “Definition Of God”

RIP Sean Price. He’s the GOAT.

Wu Tang Clan: “Pearl Harbor”

It’s got ill features and the beat is absolutely bananas!

Sky Zoo: “Bamboo”

Sky Zoo is slept on and underrated, for sure.

The Black Keys: “I’ll Be Your Man”

Because it’s not supposed to be here and I like it.

Rex Ryan Feat. Westside Gunn and Roc Marciano: “Conway”

The machine Conway and Griselda is over everything right now.

Vinnie Paz: “Cheesesteaks”

Raw. Philly. Classic.

Kaimbr: “Cora”

Kaimbr is on my album and is awesome.

Celebrity Playlist: J Berd was last modified: November 7th, 2017 by Colin McGuire

We all know and we all love and we all adore Middle Kid. It’s braintrust is none other than the fabulous Zack Willis. And it just so happens that the fabulous Zack Willis will bring his fabulous friends to Sky Stage Saturday night to perform along with the bands Milton J & The Leftovers, Joint Operation and Medium. To help spread the word about such an occasion, we caught up with Zack and asked him if he’d be up for curating a Celebrity Playlist for us to post for you – yes, you! He said yes. History was made. There’s some great stuff in here, friends, and you’ll definitely want to check out what he has to say about said great stuff. The fun begins at 7 p.m. Do it to it.

Great Grandpa: “Teen Challenge”

I saw Great Grandpa recently, opening for Rozwell Kid, and they quickly became one of my faves. It’s hard not to sing along to this song and I love the way Alex Menne does vocal melodies throughout the whole album. Plus, the solo in the middle is super quick and unexpected and it just rips.

Kevin Devine: “Noose Dressed Like a Necklace”

The hardest part of this whole list for me was picking just one Kevin Devine song that I loved. I would say that maybe this isn’t my favorite KD song of all time, but it’s up there. Kevin Devine is probably my favorite songwriter of all time and one that I admire greatly. The lyrics focus on these random observations that “have nothing to do with the other,” and yet he manages to weave these mundanities into this overall theme of hopelessness in a work environment. He’s an incredible poet, storyteller, everything.

Albert Bagman: “Till Death”

I had the incredible privilege of having this band play at my birthday party. Albert Bagman invite you into their world with this music and create this incredible haunting ambience in a way I haven’t seen before. This song is spooky, earnest and just generally lovely.

Mr. Husband: “Cookie Pie”

I think it’s safe to say I hear this song on a daily basis. I picked this song in particular because I think it best exemplifies what Mr. Husband does best – catchy, beach-y music full of affection. You know when you hear this song that Mr. Husband loves his wife, and that’s just adorable.

Rozwell Kid: “Michael Keaton”

This song is based around an idea for a screenplay Jordan had in his mind about a group of kids that had a love of Michael Keaton’s Batman in common and went on a trip to tell Keaton how great he is. I would say that the actual song fits even better in a “last semester of high school” movie probably with someone like Justin Long as the down-on-his-luck-but-optimistic main character. How old is he now? 40? Dude can still play high schoolers.

Alex G: “Proud”

Alex G is another artist that is really captivating lyrically. He has a way of doing character study lyrics that I find particularly impressive. I’ve always wanted to try to capture the experience of someone outside of myself but have always been generally unsuccessful. I try to learn from songs like this. On top of that, this song is really fun to bop around to.

Ratboys: “Wandered”

Ratboys’ album “GN” was one of my surprise favorites of 2017. I hadn’t listened to them prior, but these slow burn, catchy songs really hooked me in. Julia Steiner’s high-pitched voice against the lower, slowly played notes of the guitar create an incredible lush sound.

The Smiths: “The Headmaster Ritual”

I think you can learn a lot about someone by their favorite Smiths song (or can you?). “The Headmaster Ritual” is really quintessential Smiths to me, and on top of that, you get these super bummer lyrics about Morrissey just having the worst time at school, and he writes it in a way that makes you feel like you’re the one getting knocked around and bullied.

Cloakroom: “Starchild Skull”

Cloakroom is one of my current favorite bands, and they just released a new record called “Time Well” that I have to sit down and listen to. This song does the best job of mixing their gazey, fuzzy sound with something a little more accessible. It gives you time to headbang, but also gives you time to cross your arms and nod in approval.

Foo Fighters: “Exhausted”

If you know anything about me, you know that my favorite album of all time is the Foo Fighters’ self-titled first record. It’s the fuzziest, catchiest record and, according to Dave Grohl, half of the lyrics make no sense. I’ve always been obsessed with the songs bands pick to end their records on, and this song feels like it was made with that purpose in mind. It’s a slow, static burn full of squealing feedback against the softer verse vocals, and brings the whole thing to a headbanging close.

Celebrity Playlist: Zack Willis was last modified: August 23rd, 2017 by Colin McGuire

Anyone who’s been reading this silly little website for some amount of time knows that Kai Orion is one of our favorite artists in the history of forever, and his 2015 set, “Pots & Pans,” was nothing short of a masterpiece. He’s going to be bringing his Gabriel-ian awesomeness to Cafe Nola on Friday, July 7, and not only are we told that the show will mark his birthday, but we also wanted to make sure that you had ample amount of time to adjust your schedule accordingly in order to make it out and celebrate with him next week. In anticipation of the show, we reached out to Kai, who was kind enough to offer up a Celebrity Playlist that features everything from Elbow to Genesis to Massive Attack to Tom Waits. He’ll be taking the stage with Alexander Gallows and Luna. The fun will start at 10 p.m. If you miss it, you’ll be missing out. And that’s the truth, friends. That’s the truth.

Peter Gabriel: “Here Comes The Flood”

Peter Gabriel is something of a musical father figure to me, and this song has always been one of my favorites. As I understand, the lyrics depict a supernatural event in which all of consciousness joins together and everyone’s secrets are released. There’s several versions of this song and my personal favorite is the gorgeously sparse rendition that appears on Robert Fripp’s album “Exposure.”

Talk Talk: “After the Flood”

The first time I heard Talk Talk’s “Laughing Stock” I was blown away. This is one of the darker moments on the album – it’s a moody, intense track that sort of builds out of nothing. Midway through, there’s this horrible guitar sound that comes in out of nowhere, lasts for like a minute and a half, and then vanishes. Supposedly, the band was actually sued by their record company over this album for being “willfully uncommercial and obscure.”

Elbow: “Starlings”

Elbow are a wonderful band that I’ve been really into lately. This song is a great example of their ability to marry explorative music with incredibly poignant lines like, “You are the only thing in any room you’re ever in.”

The National: “Apartment Story”

The National has this strange effect where the first time you hear them you’re not all that impressed, and then six days later, you’re at the laundromat, going through the motions, when all of the sudden you come to the realization that they’re the greatest band ever. They’ve become one of my favorite bands over the years, and I’m not just saying that because they paid me.

Tom Waits: “Anywhere I Lay My Head”

Not many artists can sound this strange and this moving at the same time. It’s a cathartic, hymn-like piece with one of the most impassioned vocals I’ve ever heard, and the New Orleans-style big band reprise at the end is icing on the cake.

Leonard Cohen: “Suzanne”

I’ve been rediscovering Leonard Cohen’s music since his death last year. This is a classic song and features one of my favorite lyrics, illustrating Cohen’s ability to write beautiful imagery that alternates between intimate and grandiose.

Genesis: “Supper’s Ready”

I think I was eight years old when I first heard this song, and it really captured my imagination and showed me how music could be a storytelling medium. It’s a 22-minute exploration into the quieter side of prog, the first half of the song being almost entirely acoustic. There’s no shortage of lengthy instrumental passages, and yet it never feels self-indulgent to me.

Jethro Tull: “Thick As A Brick”

Rock guitarists have an infinite litany of idols to choose from, but us flautists are stuck with Jethro Tull. Not that that’s a bad thing. I loved everything about this song/album when I discovered it – the snarling flute sounds, the folksy songwriting, the clever lyrics, and the Pythonian humor that tied it all together.

Massive Attack: “Teardrop”

Massive Attack was my gateway into electronic music. This is one of favorite songs by them, with its iconic guitar and piano pattern. Hypnotic and peaceful.

Bruce Cockburn: “Live on My Mind”

“It’s your eyes I wanna see looking into mine/I got you live on my mind, all the time.” This has been one of my favorite songs to cover over the years.

Celebrity Playlist: Kai Orion was last modified: June 26th, 2017 by Colin McGuire

The Frederick Craft Spirits Festival. Have you heard of it? It’s set to go down this Saturday at the 200 East Art Haus. Tickets are still available. Think of it as all the craft spirits you could possibly drink in a three-hour span. That’s what the ticket includes. Crazy, right? Right. Anyway, our dear old friend Luke Alexander, he of Big Hoax fame, will be bringing along some friends to perform with him throughout the proceedings, which will be split into two sessions – one from noon to 3 p.m., the other from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. We recently caught up with Luke to get his installment of one of our favorite new features, Celebrity Playlist. Below, we asked him to give us some of his favorite songs ever and why they mean as much as they do to him. Again: He’ll be performing throughout the day Saturday. You’ll come hang, right?

Bruce Cockburn: “Love Song”

There aren’t many love songs I gravitate toward, but the tension in this song is really what makes it a genius piece. Bruce Cockburn writes an infatuated description of his lover, and as buried as the message is in his lyrics, you can feel the longing in the chord progressions that he’s writing about someone he’s never met. He then ties a bow on the package with “When you be beside me, I am real.”

Joni Mitchell: “Carey”

Joni Mitchell was a large part of my upbringing. Long car rides and singing. This song was one of our favorites.

Jack Johnson: “Traffic In The Sky”

This song always put me in a good place. Jack is submissive and passive in this song, but it’s relatable and opens a window into who he is, which is what authentic songwriting is all about.

Rage Against The Machine: “Testify”

It was hard to pick which song off “The Battle of Los Angeles” I was going to use.

Damien Rice: “Volcano”

This was the first and only song I played with my sister Leah. She took the violin and harmonies one afternoon when we were kids. It’s one of the memories I keep close.

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals: “When Will You Come Back Home”

There are moments we need to let go of our fronts and face ourselves for a little while. This is one song that takes me there when I need it.

Modest Mouse: “Bukowski”

I love everything about the tone and production of this song. It’s just the right level of frustration and defiance.

Paul Simon: “The Cool, Cool River” (Live in Central Park, 1991)

This is one of the many concerts I’d take a time machine to. This song was made to be heard live, and Paul shows you.

Yes: “Going for the One”

My step-father introduced me to a much more technical catalog and took me to live shows at an early age as a way to bond. 50 cent and Eminem are great, but I think this transitional period as a listener was where I really identified with my passion for music and writing. Yes was a big part of his catalog.

Dave Matthews Band: “Busted Stuff”

Not including DMB on this list would be me simply lying to you. Their music and songwriting structure taught me to look outside the box as a songwriter.

Sam Cooke: “Bring It On Home To Me” (Live at Harlem Square Club, 1963)

This entire album, I hold very dear. I think every live musician/frontman should take notes from this record. The spirit that’s captured here was such a sanctuary for African Americans during a pivotal time for civil rights, and it bleeds and sweats through your speakers. This is bonafide soul.

Tomorrow night is the night, friends. The third-annual Frederick Music Showcase is set to go down at the Weinberg Center for the Arts and you have t-minus 14 hours to still grab those $10 tickets. Local hip-hop artist Stitch Early is going to kick things off in all types of style when he hits the stage at 7 p.m., pronto. We recently caught up with the rapper, along with members of his band, to get a Celebrity Playlist together that might just be a bit more surprising than you had initially thought (System Of A Down?! Really?!). It makes sense, considering how he’s got some surprises up his sleeve for tomorrow night. And you won’t want to miss that … would you?!

DJ MINUS NINE (DJ)

James Brown: “Funky Drummer Parts 1 & 2”

His ability to communicate control in his band is unmatched in music. Everything is fluid and seamless. This is a combination of soul, funk, and jazz at its finest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN-UpSVo0qg

MARCUS SAMPSON (KEYBOARD)

Indeep: “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life”

I love that song because I love the way music can affect all parts of my life, no matter the situation. And I think the song is funky (laughs).

DAN LEONARD (KEYBOARD)

JJ Hairston and Youthful Praise: “Lord You’re Mighty”

Whenever I’m going through a tough season in life, I think about this song and meditate on how awesome and powerful and mighty God is. It gives me strength and motivation to keep pushing forward.

STITCH EARLY

MIDWEST

Kanye West feat. Lupe Fiasco: “Touch The Sky”

From production, to hook, to lyrics, it’s a near-flawless track from one of my favorite albums. This was my first time hearing Lupe Fiasco and it made me take my lyricism and song writing to a whole other level.

EAST COAST

Nas: “I Gave You Power”

What can I say – he literally raps from the perspective of a gun … and then drops the mic! He introduced me to what a concept record truly was. The fact that he was able to give a gun human qualities and emotions with flawless execution was great. He’s one of the biggest reasons I love and create conceptual albums.

SOUTH

Outkast: “B.O.B.”

The ultimate mashup. Hip-hop, drum & bass, dance, gospel. It’s all in there. To this day, when that song comes on … man! You can’t help but move. It’s one of my favorites off of one of my favorite albums. They showed the importance of being versatile.

WEST COAST

Snoop Dogg: “Gin & Juice”

I remember when my uncle gave the album this song is on. I was 9 years old. That’s still funny to me. Once again, flawless execution. His ability to connect with the audience using a drink was great. Add to that his storytelling ability and the fact that you can see the song as you listen – everything is elevated higher. This song highlights the importance of storytelling.

R&B/SOUL

D’Angelo: “Brown Sugar”

Stand out. When this song came out, it was different from anything else that was out at the time. The song seemed as if it was written for a rapper, but given to a singer to add some melody to it. It was smooth, soulful and jazzy with this hip-hop edge to it.

ROCK

System Of A Down: “Chop Suey!”

The transitions in this song are epic. I remember being in my room hearing it on MTV or something and turning the volume all the way up on my TV, like what is this? Serj Tankian’s voice was perfect on this track and “Toxicity” was a great album. I remember banging this in my car and people looking like … “That’s a black guy!” Ha!

Celebrity Playlist: Stitch Early And His Band was last modified: February 15th, 2017 by Colin McGuire

So, check it out. Bad Seed Rising are playing this year’s installment of the Frederick Music Showcase at the Weinberg Center for the Arts on Feb. 16. Have you heard? Hopefully, you have by now. Anyway, in between tours and albums, those fine kids – who are all twice as young as you wish you were – will be offering up a rare hometown show when all of this fun commences. And for our latest Celebrity Playlist installment, we caught up with the band’s bass player, Louey Peraza, to ask him about some songs he can’t get enough of these days. Makes sense, right? Right. There’s some Bruno Mars. There’s some Black Sabbath. And there’s some Tame Impala. In other words, a lot of neat stuff. Remember: You can still buy tickets by visiting www.weinbergcenter.org, and once you get to the day of the show, that prices ticks up a few bucks. Save the money, friends. Save the money.

Beware Of Darkness: “Summer Daze”

I like this one because the song is written well and I really dig the singer’s voice. The riff is light and fun and the melody sounds cool with the progression.

Rolling Stones: “Torn and Frayed”

This tune is really cool because of its honesty. They do an awesome job of making a song you can sing along to super quick.

Black Lips: “New Direction”

This song is really cool; it’s fast and super catchy. The lyrics in this one are cool as well.

Royal Blood: “Figure it Out”

This song just rocks. Bop your head and groove. This song kills.

Tame Impala: “Less I Know The Better”

These guy rule. The music is insanely tight and the lyrics and melodies are great.

The Shelters: “Rebel Heart”

I found these dudes on Facebook the other day and I’m hooked. The style of the music, as well as the band, is a cool throwback and I dig it.

Bruno Mars: “Perm”

This tune is great. It’s funky and fun as hell. I felt like he got a little James Brown with this one and I think it’s great.

Black Sabbath: “Tomorrow’s Dream”

What do I need to say? It’s Sabbath. The riff rules and the guitar solo is badass.

Eagles: “Take It Easy”

I love this song. The songwriting is simple but just awesome. Joe Walsh kills on this song. There’s a live video of them in ’77 thats pretty awesome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJzvkHtfBfM

Foo Fighters: “Floaty”

This song is really cool. It’s one of the deeper tracks off their first record, which is really cool and you should listen to it.

Guys In Thin Ties. Have you heard of them? Have you heard about the way they absolutely own the 1980s? We hope so, because they, along with Cheshi, Bad Seed Rising and Stitch Early, are going to be taking the Weinberg Center stage on Thursday, Feb. 16, as part of the Frederick Music Showcase Vol. 3. Bill Blythe, who plays bass for the band, was recently kind enough to offer up his own Celebrity Playlist regarding some of his all-time favorite songs. So, well, we thought we’d share. There’s some great stuff in here, friends, including a “Breaking Bad” reference. So, rock it. Roll it. And don’t forget: Tickets for the Showcase are currently $10. If you wait until the night of the show, that number goes up. Hey, friends. Just looking out for you. And you. And you. And you. OK. Anyway. Enjoy!

Badginer: ”Baby Blue”

This band was amazing. You’ll never hear another voice like Pete Ham. The story of Badfinger is tragic (look it up sometime). This song was produced by Todd Rundgren. I especially love the harmonies with Tom Evans. Plus, it was the last song played on “Breaking Bad.” Awesome!

Paul McCartney & Wings: “Baby I’m Amazed”

I love the Beatles and I really liked Paul McCartney & Wings. This version of the song (live) is my favorite. It’s raw and pure and live! Plus, I think the drums sound incredible. The guitar is spot on. Great song.

Christina Perri: “A Thousand Years”

Forget the fact that this is from the “Twilight” movies; this is such a beautiful song. My wife would listen to this song all of the time and every time I hear it, it reminds me of her.

Matchbox Twenty: “Long Day”

This was the first single off their debut album. I loved it from the start. Incredible vocals from Rob Thomas. It wasn’t a huge success on the radio, but it is, hands down, my favorite MB20 song.

Eagles: “New Kid In Town”

This song reminds me of my childhood. I remember my dad listening to this on his record player. What can I say about the Eagles … one of the greatest bands ever. Great song, amazing vocals and some of the best musicians on the planet.

Danny Wilson: “Mary’s Prayer”

It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t have any songs from the ‘80s in this list! This song came out in 1987. This wasn’t a huge hit, but whenever I heard it on the radio, I stopped and listened. The vocals are beautiful and when Guys In Thin Ties plays this song, John Coghill does an amazing job.

Giant: “I’m A Believer”

This song came out in 1989. The band was made up of studio musicians. They rocked! Giant probably came out about two years too late. At the time, hair bands and ‘80s rock was starting to change. Dan Huff, the guitarist, is one of the most underrated guitar players ever – and he’s a great singer!

The Buggles: “Video Killed The Radio Star”

Ok, another ‘80s tune. Or, well, not exactly. The song was released in 1979 and later, was the first video to be played on MTV (Aug. 1, 1981). MTV was a huge musical influence on me. It was my after-school babysitter! This tune reminds of all the songs ever played on MTV.

The Hollies: “Carrie Anne”

Such a cool song. The hook is awesome. I’m a big fan of Graham Nash’s high harmonies. It’s a simple song and sometimes simple is good.

The Beatles: “A Day In The Life”

Someone asked me what my favorite Beatles song was once. Not hard for me: “A Day In The Life.” I like songs with several different parts, and I love John Lennon’s vocals on this song. The Beatles were influential on me and many of my favorite bands growing up.

Oh, it’s that time, friends. Precisely one month from today – that’s Feb. 16, to be exact – the third installment of the Frederick Music Showcase will be going down at the Weinberg Center. Cheshi – who will be releasing their debut EP at the show (!) – will be performing and yes, you should care. In fact, you should care a lot. A real lot. A real, real lot. Anyway, we recently caught up with the band’s namesake, Ashli Cheshire, for our latest edition of Celebrity Playlist. There’s a lot of neat stuff in here, friends, including some killer Nina Simone action and a whole plethora of legends that ought to make you excited. Remember: Tickets for the Showcase are only 10 bucks now, but they’ll head up to $15 on the night of the show. Not sayin’ … but just sayin’.

ABBA: “Dancing Queen”

I have to choose this first. No matter what I am doing or where I am at, when i hear the vocal chorus at the start of this song, I just have to put my arms out and do a few really fabulous and sassy spins.

David Bowie: “Let’s Dance”

For the same reason as the first – I have a few songs that I have choreographed dances to. This is one of them. And you gotta be hella special to dance it with me.

The Soil & The Sun: “Are You?”

This song recently fell in my lap, and it struck a chord within me that rarely happens. It reminds me of this search in life for something more, and the struggle of social and spiritual interactions: “Who are you are we are.”

Nico: “These Days”

Self-Awareness. Actualization. This song is a cool, lonely sunny morning, where there’s a chance you could get sad about the past. But then you just get honest.

The The: “This Is The Day”

This is a reminder that at any moment, you can be exactly who you want to be. And the accordion in this song is so groovy.

Junglepussy: “Nah”

It’s just so good. Baltimore queen. “I seen you eat at Micky Dee’s/Knew you ain’t love yourself/I’m up in Trader Joe’s/Shopping cart full of health.”

Sharon Van Etten: “I Know”

One of my favorite singer/songwriters. This song gets there.

Nina Simone: “Feelings”

Live at Montreux, 1976. Watch the live version of this cover by Nina Simone. I have no comment, really – you either watch it and feel it, or you scroll past it. Saying anything could diminish it’s power: “I would never let you go so soon, and so embarrassingly soft.”

Patti Smith: “Gloria: In Excelsis Deo”

“Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.” Goddess power.

Joni Mitchell: “River”

“I wish I had a river so long, I could teach my feet to fly” – I feel that a lot.

And for the first post of 2017, we have … a Celebrity Playlist! Check out these picks from all the dudes in local pop/rock/soul group Lost Keys. That’s right, friends – all the dudes picked some stuff. Now, isn’t that fun. The answer is yes. Yes, that is fun. The band has an EP they are prepping for release any day now, and as we wrote a couple weeks ago, it’s definitely worth your time (word has it that they even released one of the songs on The World Wide Internet this week). Dig what you hear? You can check them out at Guido’s on the 15h and at the Bright Box Theater in Winchester, Virginia, on the 20th. Check it. Rock it. Roll it.

Trevor Davis (Lead Vocals, Guitar):
Recently, I’ve been listening to Too Many Zooz on repeat. “F.W.S.” and “Brasshouse Vol. 7 No. 69” are great when I’m writing or cooking.

I also have been obsessed with “A Song For You“ – but the Donny Hathaway version that displays his vocal excellence.

Jordan Miller (Vocals, Drums):
I’m a big album person over individual songs and I like to listen to things as a whole. Lately, I’ve been jamming to “The Battle for Earth” by Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and “We Like it Here” by Snarky Puppy.

As far as really new stuff, the two albums I’ve been really into lately are the new Metallica, “Hardwired … To Self Destruct,” and the new Tribe Called Quest, “We Got it From Here … Thank You 4 Your Service.” Both are classic groups who still somehow sound extremely youthful and fresh on these albums. It’s been a lot of fun hearing both these groups do their thing again and, in my opinion, totally nail it.

Anthony Sloan (Guitar):
Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of the Derek Trucks Band, Gov’t Mule, and Neil Young. All of their albums are on a pretty constant rotation in my car, and I drive 600 miles a week, so that’s where I do all my listening. These have recently been interrupted by spurts of Incubus (“Morning View” is my favorite), Alabama Shakes, and Gary Clark, Jr. If you haven’t already been introduced to Derek Trucks Band, don’t miss the albums “Joyful Noise,” “Songlines” or “Out of the Madness.” All are filled with inspiring music.

Stefan Sandman (Bass):
My other band, Luminosity, played a local show with Gloom this past November. Gloom are a death metal group from Washington, D.C. I’m so glad there are still awesome metal acts passing through Frederick. I always like to disappear for some quiet time right before I play a gig, but these guys drew me back into the room. I took note of their incredibly talented bassist Jason Savell. Jason and I got to chatting afterward and I learned he’s a student of the world-renowned bassist Anthony Wellington. Awesome sound! I hear they’re recording a new album. I’ll be spinning their E.P. until that drops.

Celebrity Playlist: Lost Keys was last modified: January 3rd, 2017 by Colin McGuire

Oh, we love us some Celebrity Playlist. This time up, we have Jesse Shultzaberger, drummer for the band Ginada Pinata, who will be performing in the area not once, but twice – twice! – this weekend. On Friday, they’ll be at The Blue Side here in town, while on Saturday, they’ll be performing at the Town Run Brewing Company over in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He recently gave us a list of his favorite songs right now, and there’s some doozies in here, friends, including some Chick Corea, some Lettuce and even a little Bruno Mars, among others. You’ll definitely want to give it a good, long scroll. For more about the band, check them out on Facebook here.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy & Friends: “Rubin & Cherise”

I have always loved this song by The Jerry Garcia Band and lyricist Robert Hunter. I think it’s the storytelling that really does it for me. When I heard this version, I couldn’t get enough. The studio production on this tune is amazing. The guitar reverb is out of this world.

Tedeschi Trucks Band: “Let Me Get By” (Live with David Hidalgo)

What’s not to like on this tune?It has incredible vocals harmonies, killing guitar solos, double drummers and a positive message.

Lettuce: “The Force”

Being a drummer – especially one who plays funk – I tend to gravitate towards strong grooves. Adam Deitch is funky and aggressive which is very appealing to me. This entire album is full of great licks and is very listenable.

Chick Corea Trio: “Recorda-Me”

Released in 2014, winning the Grammy in 2015, this album sunk its claws into me immediately. This tune in particular really does it. Brian Blade’s drumming on this is next level. I’ve probably listened to this track 500 times.

Funkadelic: “One Nation Under A Groove”

With the current political climate in our country, I keep going back this song. Let us not forget the ability of music to bring people together. Beyond all that, this tune is just super funky!

Muse: “Panic Station”

I started getting into Muse after seeing their “Live in Rome” concert. They remind me of so many bands I love. I think they fall somewhere between Pink Floyd, U2, The Who and Black Sabbath.

Ghost: “Cirice”

Ghost kind of freaks me out a bit, but I can’t get enough of their brand of rock. This tune is just heavy as hell and very well produced.

Bruno Mars: “24K Magic”

Bruno Mars does it again. It’s pop, it’s funk, it’s throwback.

The Hip Abduction: “Children of the Sun”

Another new band for me. This tune falls somewhere between reggae and world beat. They’ve got that Talking Heads kind of vibe.

Galactic: “Does It Really Make A Difference”

Drummer Stanton Moore has been a big influence on me over the years. For me, this tune really stands apart for the rest of the Galactic catalog. It’s almost a soul throwback. The production is thick and warm and Mavis Staples is so smooth.